Owens & Minor and the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA) announced the winners of the 2022 Supplier Diversity Awards honoring the legacy of Earl G. Reubel. The awards recognize people and organizations that demonstrate an active, sustained commitment to advocating for greater supplier diversity in the healthcare supply chain for diverse or underrepresented populations. This year’s award recipients were recognized during the HSDA Conference held virtually on Dec. 8.
Winners were chosen across three categories:
- Civic Leader of the Year: Carey Jaros, President, and CEO of GOJO Industries, Inc., a women’s business enterprise certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), led the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Jaros’ leadership, the company dramatically increased production capacity for its PURELL® products during the peak of the pandemic and made significant capital investments in northeastern Ohio that resulted in the hiring of over 500 new employees.
- Diverse Enterprise of the Year: Caracal Corporation, a certified minority-owned enterprise (MBE), actively gives back to communities via its scholarship, mentorship, and workforce development programs. Additionally, more than 60 percent of the company’s products and services are sourced directly from minority and women-owned businesses, helping to accelerate job growth in diverse communities.
- Large Corporation of the Year: Jackson Health System, a Florida-based nonprofit academic medical system that offers world-class care to all residents of Miami-Dade county regardless of their ability to pay, has implemented a variety of programs and initiatives across its workforce that empower diverse employee voices and encourage advocacy and allyship. Jackson Health has also demonstrated its commitment to supplier diversity through its capital investments, outreach, and mentoring programs.
“We are proud to honor this year’s award winners, each of which have consistently demonstrated what it means to advance supplier diversity in the healthcare supply chain industry,” said Edward A. Pesicka, President and CEO, Owens & Minor. “We look forward to collaborating with them and other small, woman, minority, LGBTQ+, and veteran-owned suppliers as we pursue innovative, unique, and cost-competitive solutions for our customers.”
“We sincerely congratulate this year’s award winners and applaud their commitment to making a positive difference in our industry and in their communities,” said Andrea Reubel-Walker, Director of Marketing and Key National Accounts for Kerma Medical Products and Secretary of HSDA.
About the Supplier Diversity Awards Honoring Earl G. Reubel
Launched by Owens & Minor in 2012 in collaboration with Kerma Medical Products, Inc., and the Healthcare Supplier Diversity Alliance (HSDA), the Earl G. Reubel Awards recognize people and organizations that demonstrate leadership and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the healthcare supply chain. The annual program honors the legacy of the late Earl G. Reubel, entrepreneur and co-founder of Kerma, a family-owned Veteran-Minority Owned Company (VOSB) with a direct sales division in Miramar, Florida. Founded by Joyce Kershaw-Reubel and Earl G. Reubel, Kerma began as a manufacturer in 1991 as a United States government supplier and today is one of the largest diversity manufacturer/supplier companies in the private sector.